Workforce Participation Ratio Shows Positive Momentum
The overall Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for the age group 15 years and above also rose to a yearly peak of 53.4% in December 2025. Rural male WPR increased to 76.0% while rural female WPR rose slightly to 38.6%. Urban male WPR saw a minor dip to 70.4%, and urban female WPR remained at 23.0%.
Rural Female Participation Continues Steady Growth
Rural female LFPR continued its gradual rise, reaching 40.1% in December, 2025 from 39.7% in November. Urban female LFPR, however, saw a slight decrease to 25.3% from 25.5% over the same period. These figures indicate a sustained increase in women’s engagement in the workforce, especially in rural areas.
Unemployment Rate Remains Broadly Stable
The overall Unemployment Rate (UR) for persons aged 15 years and above stood at 4.8% in December, 2025, compared to 4.7% in November. Rural UR remained steady at 3.9%, while urban UR rose slightly to 6.7%. Urban female UR witnessed a decline to 9.1%, down from the yearly high of 9.7% observed in October, reflecting improving employment opportunities for women in urban areas.
Labour Market Survey Coverage
The December 2025 survey collected information from 3,73,990 individuals across India, including 2,13,216 in rural areas and 1,60,774 in urban locations. The PLFS Monthly Bulletin provides comprehensive estimates of labour force participation, worker population ratio, and unemployment rate across gender, age, and rural-urban divisions.
